WSR 18-03-109

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed January 18, 2018, 3:46 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is considering amending current recreational fishing rules resulting from stakeholder recommendations made during North of Falcon meetings and to incorporate changes in the rules brought about from the department's freshwater recreational rule simplification project.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.020, 77.04.055, 77.12.045, and 77.12.047.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The recreational fishing rules based on North of Falcon recommendations change from year to year to reflect resource availability and to achieve conservation goals. Amendments to recreational fishing rules are needed to implement the agreed upon changes. In addition, the rules need to be amended to incorporate recent rule changes brought about from the freshwater recreational rule simplification project.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: There are several other agencies involved in this rule making in association with the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) season setting process including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) Fisheries Division (National Marine Fisheries Service). These agencies, as well as the Washington department of fish and wildlife, all provide input and/or take part in the PFMC/North of Falcon season setting meeting.

Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Scott Bird, 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501, phone 360-902-2403, fax 360-902-2466, email Rules.Coordinator@dfw.wa.gov.

January 18, 2018

Scott Bird

Rules Coordinator